COLUMBUS, Ga. – Southern Oregon avenged five regular-season losses to Oregon Tech in a big way, as Cayla Williams tossed a 3-hit shutout and added three RBI, as the Raiders topped the Lady Owls, 10-0, at the NAIA Softball World Series.
 
All-America catcher Riley Donovan started the day for Southern (48-12) with a first inning homer and added a 2-run double in a 6-run sixth inning outburst, as the Cascade Conference rival moved into the national semifinals for the third time in four seasons.
 
The Lady Owls (50-9) will have to win five elimination games to claim a national title – starting Monday afternoon at 1 p.m. against Midland (Neb.). The game will be carried live in the Klamath Basin on 104.3/960 Sports.
 
"We unfortunately did not have our 'A' game today," said OIT head coach Greg Stewart. "That was one of those tough outings where we did not perform to our ability and SOU played really well. I completely expect our team to respond with pride from this and bounce back to play great on Monday."
 
Donovan hit the first pitch she saw in the first inning over the wall in right-center for her NAIA leading 21st home run. The Raiders lead would grow to 4-0 in the third – as an error to start the inning was followed by hits from Donovan and Williams, along with RBI knocks from Lauren Weinberg and Sarah Kerling – part of a 16-hit SOU attack.
 
OIT had chances – stranding runners in scoring position in the first two innings and had runners at first and second with one out in the third. Maggie Buckholz ripped a line drive that SOU shortstop Sammie Pemberton dropped, but recovered to turn an inning ending double play.
 
Southern put the game away in the sixth – loading the bases with three singles. Donovan lined a 2-run double over the drawn-in infield and Williams followed with a 2-run single.
 
Williams used her change-up to perfection, holding Tech to three singles and not allowing a runner to reach third base for her second win of the World Series.
 
Kerling was 4-for-4 in the win for SOU, with both Donovan and Williams each recording 3-hit games.
 
Lexi Klum had two of the three OIT hits.
 
NOTES:
 

• It was the second time in four games that OIT has been shutout, with the Owls offense limited to a combined seven hits in their two World Series games
• SOU improved to 12-8 all-time against OIT in postseason games
• OIT and SOU are the lone remaining teams in the tournament to win a NAIA softball national championship
• Monday's opponent, Midland, dropped their tournament opener to Marian, but have recorded back-to-back elimination game wins – defeating No. 6-seed Science & Arts and No. 2-seed Our Lady of the Lake